Catalytic fuel cell as an analytical tool for methanol and ethanol determination

A small direct catalytic methanol `fuel cell' was used for analytical purposes. Three different formats were investigated for methanol and ethanol determination: two different OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) formats and a potentiostatic format, recording the current supplied by the cell. The measurement times using one or other of these three procedures were very different. The time required for the latter format was found to be shorter for a suitable analytical measurement.